JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

So many jammers - how exciting! Really looking forward to a succesful month everyone. Let's lead each other down this good path of sobriety so we can feel better emotionally, physically, and get rid of the never-ending struggle of trying to contend with if we're going to drink, how much, what we'll do that we'll regret, having to start over, etc. etc.

Tipps, glad you're back - hope you've been well overall. Sorry you haven't been able to make that final hurdle, but you know if you really want it you'll do it!

Sarah Jane, get the first 30 down, and then go from there. If you've already done two weeks, this time you can make January your first goal, eh? I know that reading like you're doing helped me get going. Lots of good support here, so I'm sure you can do it!

Hyper, I so hear you about a society that revolves around alcohol. Making it past NYE was a feat, so you've got a show of strength there! For my first 90 days I'm avoiding social situations as much as possible. You already know you don't want to drink, so that's a positive......that you know your goal. That's mine too......I have no intention of trying to moderate again.

FreeFly - clean slate - give it you best. Lots of energy on this thread to help you along!

Jenn, try to be patient and not expect to feel like a new person yet - you've still got a few days for the alcohol to even be out of your system, right? It gets better so just hang in there.

SL, Piper (hope you make it back), ML, Spuds, R4L, Tribal Rose, Merry, Jenny, Queenie, Cuckoo, Believer, Belle, Alison let's keep it going......so glad you're here.

[jenniech]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

I feel good....craving not so bad today...better than yesterday.....but tomorrow i know will be the real challenge.....stresses of the day and all....but I am still determined......only day 2 ........but still resolved.
Do any of you go to AA meetings? I have tried several times but never feel connected to anyone. Their stories are so much worse than mine. But maybe i should try again? i don't know...Last time I went I ran into a few people i actually know but not well and they pretended they didn't recognize me making me feel even more uncomfortable. What have your experiences been? Or do you just stick to this site?

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Jenn, I've been to one. It was an all-woman meeting. I don't know why but I never went back. I just wanted to try to do it on my own. Others here have been enormously helped by going, though. Why don't you check out the AA thread under monthly abstinence. There are quite a few people there who say it made all the difference for them. If I thought I might drink again, I would definitely be open to going to a meeting.

[jennyneric]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hello, I'm just checking in. I did well today and last night. No cravings no wanting. I'm still trying to remember the second half of NYE. Everyone I was with was trashed too so they aren't much help, on the bright side...they don't remember anything I did so I guess there is nothing to be embarassed about. I really need a plan for being there (hubbys ex bosses aka best friends house) they are big drinkers and I alway drink too much there. I guess if I don't drink I don't need a plan, I just don't drink...that is the plan. I can be the driver so everyone else can drink safey because we were very not safe Saturday...very not safe. anyway. Time to go finish getting my house in order before work starts tomorrow. Thank you to you all for being here for me....again....

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Jenny, I feel for you because you have so many situations that put you in a stressful way (parties, etc.). I don't know how you can do anything besides commit to not drinking. Please don't let something bad happen before you can make the change. I know you want to stop because you've been trying so hard for a while now. Do you think Antabuse would be an option for you? I know K9 has had good luck with it. If you say you'll be the designated driver will that be enough to make you not drink for sure? I keep thinking of a video I saw of a very successful business woman - early 40s probably - she had killed two people when she drove drunk down a one way access road. They had a video of her and it was one of the saddest things I'd ever seen. She was absolutely ruined, her life a shambles. Let us know how we can help.:l

[piper123]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hyper, I am here and AF. thank you for checking on me.

jenn I have tried AA and am going to try again. I found another meeting that might be a better fit for me than the last one I went to.

Good night nest.

Piper

[scottish lass]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Back to work tomorrow - gym at 6am, then off to work. Decorations down, and holidays over. Hopefully strong enough to have learnt some new habits and not fall back into old ones - have to drive home past all the normal stops! 35 days today.....
Night to all the Jammers and happy hangover free waking!!!

[Hypernova]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hey Unwasted ~~ you are wise to avoid situations that might(will) put you at risk. As far as moderating I've never really tried that I just try and drink less but that never lasts and I always end up drinking too freaking much. Moderation I can do in most things say like coffee but when it comes to booze the gloves are off. I work and drink and sleep. I have a little bit of a social life but have given up much to keep drinking. It is time to make a stand. My brain misses my healthy body. Best to you and look forward to reading your posts.
Piper glad you are there but elated you are AF, look forward to hearing of your progress.
On to better places.

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Good morning Jammers,

Woke up after a fantastic night's sleep. I can't rave enough about being AF. Life seems to be blossoming for me. I never would have thought this possible. I could not imagine my life without alcohol just over a year ago. How would I enjoy life? It was staggering to me when I first tried to quit at just how essential alcohol was to my very essence.

I have found a peace and serenity that never remotely existed in my drinking life. If you think alcohol is doing something for you, think again. At least for me, it was ruining any chance I had at contentedness.

If you can get through the early hardships of quitting, your life might open up to something far better than the prison of addiction.

Keep it going everyone - you have to go through the bad to get to the good!

Day 50! Woo Hoo!!!

[broken halo]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Why didn't I see this thread before? Hyper, you sound just like me, but I am on day 2 now and going back to the gym tomorrow too!

[spuddleduck]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

its great to read how everyone is getting on. strength in numbers. i was out for a family meal last night which for me is always a test. i never drink when im there but when i get home i get stuck into the wine big time. when i got back i said to mr spuds ... if i still drank al i would be getting pissed now..... instead i made a nice smoothie drink and slobbed out in front of the telly. feeling great about it

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

How To Get Self Control Over Urges

Worth the read everyone:


How to get ?SELF-CONTROL?Over the urges and cravings of a bad habit (From Smart Recovery)

Self-control is what you build up, develop, create and learn by controlling your behavior
repeatedly. We should regard self-control as a skill. It is not a character trait or a thing
you have to have that lets you control your behavior. (or a thing that not having it
prevents you from doing so.) If someone says, "I have no self-control over my drinking
or drugging, or eating sweets or whatever," it might be asked, "Are you well practiced
at resisting your urges or opportunities to use or to overeat the wrong things?" The
answer would likely be, "No." This person is well practiced at giving in to those urges
and opportunities to use. (No criticism from me! I did this for years and years.)
Getting control over your urges and opportunities is like getting control over a bicycle
or roller skates or anything else. You?re not going to start out as an expert. You will get
control of it only by forcing yourself at first to act differently than you feel! (It looks like
the bike should fall over.) And it may feel very difficult or strange. But by practicing
over and over, you learn to ride the bike! So the reason people correctly "feel" that they
don't have self-control is because they haven't been practicing what would give it to
them. In this case, the skill is in resisting urges or opportunities to use.

Along with other related strategies, at SMART Recovery? we learn how to stall,
distract and resist those urges. If sometimes we don?t succeed, we keep trying and resist
discouragement, like getting back on the bike if we tumbled! Those who do practice
resisting urges, after a while report that it becomes easier and easier to continue. They
have been exercising and building their self-control and now have begun to show a fair
amount of skill. In every day language, thinking that you must first have "self control"
before you can acquire a change in your behavior is "putting the cart before the horse."
In one famous study, children were left with a candy bar and told that if they didn't eat
it they would get two candy bars. The children who resisted the temptation while alone
were secretly observed using verbal self-reminders and distracting activities. Children
who didn't resist were later able to do so after being taught new strategies for better selfcontrol.

Things like learning that urges are time-limited, and they will crest and subside
if we stall and divert the thoughts to something else. We practice doing this in our group
meetings to help you be prepared for when you are tempted.

At SMART Recovery? we have a ?toolbox? of proven techniques. Learning about what
self-control really is, and using it to deal successfully with an undesired habit is an
important example of a ?tool?. We hope this knowledge gives you new insight about
ways and means you can utilize to overcome problems, even very difficult ones like
dependence on or misuse of substances.

[Prairie Fairy]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Hi all - holiday break is over and I am ready to get started - again.

Have been adding to my tool box - will post it later when I get home - but wanted to say Hi!

[SarahJane]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

Unwasted thanks for the welcome & also for the post above about cravings, very useful.

I did 2 months AF last June/July & felt great. Looking forward to doing that again.
Am Day 3 now & am feeling a bit cross & cranky, I know it will pass in a day or 2 with good healthy eating & sleep.

Great to have all of the support here. I am off to a party this evening & it will be great not to be thinking that 1 glass isn't enough because I am driving. Fizzy water here I come!

[Unwasted]

JAMMIN JANUARY KICKOFF FOR A SOBER 2012 - NEWBIE SUPPORT THREAD

SJ, you've alread had a taste of what life can be like, so that's going to help a lot! Wishing you success!

Hi Prairie Fairy - glad you're on board and look forward to hearing more!